The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-30
Current Events.

President Cleveland has taken the "other
horn" of the dilemma. and the people can
now see the beginning OF the END 81 the
eYtortions the Immigrant railways IL has
long been the custom OF those roads to de-
Law for years the selections of the lands
granted them, for the purpose OF avoiding
taxes and other charges on the lands, while
in the meantime the whole territory from
which the roads are at liberty TO make Sc
lec,ions are closed 10 settlers pending the
action of the railroads In the particular
case in point, one Guilford Miller made a
settlement and Improvements on piece OF
land in Washington Ty, and In due cour g
made claims of title under the homestead
act He was put of until the Northern
Pacific had surveyed and made their seiec-
tions. Miller's claim had been approved
by the law oikcers of the department and by
the assistant attorney general; but the at
torney general himself reported unfavor
ably, because against precedent. Inc
President then took the matter in hand,
and In a letter Of the 25th. To TO the Secre-
tary of the Interior directs that office TO ex
ercise his authority In favor OF the settlers
and let the railroad, If necessary, select
other lands In lieu of the Miller land, lie
saws the effect of the rulings OF the depart
ment In such cases has been 10 withdraw
Thousands, II not millions Of acres from the
operation Of law and placing them beyond
reach Of settlers for yea-s-on this case for
over Is years The President says: Such
n condition Of the public lands should no
longer continue. So far as il is due to the
result of executive rules and methods these
should be abanded, and go far Us II Is a con
sequence of impr0vident laws these should
be repealed or amended. Our public do
main Is our national wealth, the earnest OF
our growth, and the heritage of our people.
II should promise limitless development
and riches, relief to crowding population ;,
and homes to thrift and industry. These
inestimable advantages should be jealousy
guarded. and careful and enlightened
policy on the part of the government
should secure them TO the people"
The political world is now furnishing
about the only news going; and this came
yta the St Louis RcpUbiicaR In the state
ment that President Cleveland had said to
a"Western Senator that he would not nc
cept nomination for second term. Who
the western senator Is, does not transpire,
all who would be likely to be the man hav
Ing denied the yarn on Interview. Sena-
tor Vest of Missouri, however, on Wednes-
day said in an interview he had hit on an
explanation of the origin of the tale, some.
what in this wise: II was calling upon
President Cleveland not long ago, when In
course of conversation about the state of
the democratic party, he declared emphati-
cally that the only ambition he had was to
30 honestly and faithfully administer the
affairs of the government that people would
elect any democrat who might be nominal
cd In 1893. He knew ne had been accused
of selfish motives, But he added, If |
could consult only my own personal com.
fort and desires, would lay down the or.
flee of president tomorrow That is all he
said. lie did not intimate that he would
refuse to be a candidate again, If the party
desired him to be reuominated. | certain
ly did not get any such impression from
what he said. | regard his remark To be
simply disclaimer of personal ambition
IN the matter That Is AS good an eXplana.
ton as any. II is not likely the President
ever said more 1t Is not like him to say
more; for, however, irksome the duties of
the office might nave become. II Is EN-.
mently characteristic of Grover Cleveland
20 trust himself per Sc into the back ground
In response to the call of his party should
he deem II for the interest of his party or
the people. II Is bu, natural that he should
desire the endorsement OF his party and of
the people by second term; yet no fair
minded man has been found who can ac.
cuse the President of working the wires
with the view of a second term. Say that
he IL ambitious, his ambition thus far has
proyen Of the right sort-to give the PEG
ple an honest and business-like admins.
tratlon, and that the country has had. 1t
has been an administration for the people
and not for the aggrandizement OF Grover
Cleveland. That he will be renominated by
the democratic party goes without saying,
his only named rival being Gov. Hill OF
New York-a man not for moment TO be
compared In any respect with Cleveland,
either In the estimation OF the public, or
Of the party.
The Blaine pilgrimage from the west
homeward has been very tame affair, no
enthusiasm. no "go" TO il, just kind of An
every day trip of Maine drummer for
tooth pick factory. Surely this is not the
way the great. electrician Is going to pan
out, and u campaign coming on within a
twelve month. He reached Boston on
Thursday.
The Schaebeles affair reported last Fri.
dsv as threatening difficulty betweenFrance
and Germany has not yet been satisfac-
torily settled. The German government
has been investigating the arrest and il Is
stated that II took place on German soil